Happy Girl

Persuasive Speech on Recycling-

SLIDE 1: Since the beginning of time trees have been used by humans for many reasons - to provide shelter, to build furniture and to find food. However paper was not originally made from trees. Papermaking started in China, where old rags were shredded and used to create paper. As this invention spread throughout the world and made its way to America, it was found that wood was much more economic, abundant, and efficient for making paper. SLIDE 2: Since then it is estimated that nearly 80,000 trees are destroyed daily in order to build roads, provide lumber, urbanize communities and make paper. This process is called deforestation and is defined as the large scale removal of forests. In this picture, taken by the NASA LandSat project, of the Bolivian rainforest, we see the effects of deforestation from 1984 to 2000. Deforestation should be minimized by recycling paper because it affects biodiversity, air quality, and even weather. SLIDE 3: Although tropical rainforests make up only 7% of the land on earth, they are home to almost half of all animal species on earth. Most of the species that call these forests home are so highly specialized and have adapted so much that they are unlikely to survive anywhere else on earth. When these trees are cut down, it not only leaves them without a home and source of food, but it forces them to retreat to places they weren’t made for. Deforestation leaves these animals very susceptible to extinction. This picture was taken in the forests of Sumatra, where deforestation is widespread. The large number of Orangutans this area used to hold has dropped significantly and even been declared an endangered species. SLIDE 4: Another factor of deforestation that affects us all is air quality. As we all know, trees filter out Carbon Dioxide in the air, which is a greenhouse gas. Forests replenish the earths atmosphere by absorbing and storing Carbon and releasing clean Oxygen. A common practice during deforestation is the burning of trees, which releases MORE Carbon Dioxide into the air. SLIDE 5: This Carbon Dioxide builds up over a period of time. The large amount of carbon dioxide retains heat from the sun causing climate changes, known as global warming. In this way, trees actually affect the weather. When it rains, trees absorb large amounts of water in a relatively small amount of time, but where deforestation is present, flooding occurs. SLIDE 6: Now that we know the detrimental effects of deforestation, we need to know how we can help. Recycling is the main way people feel like they can help the planet. Recycling 1 ton of paper can save 7,000 gallons of water, 3.3 cubic yards of land fill space, and enough energy to power the average home for 6 months. Americans recycle 55% of the paper they use in a year - That is around 340 lbs of paper per person in the United States. The paper industry hopes to beat that in 2012 with 60%. 87% of Americans have access to either curbside or drop off recycling. However, Alabama is among some of the lower percentages of recycling availability with only 40% access to curbside recycling programs. SLIDE 7: You may ask yourself, “How can I make a difference in such a large problem all around the world?” The answer is simple, reduce, reuse, recycle. Reduce the number of tree products you use. Reuse the products you have. And recycle the products you don’t use anymore. The website recycle Alabama.com has great information on where to find recycled lumber and other paper products, as well as a bulletin board to post the paper products you would like to recycle. Some other ways are planting trees, reusing notebook paper, and choosing canvas bags at the grocery store as opposed to paper. Deforestation may be a global problem that affects biodiversity, air quality, and weather, but it is a problem that can be managed and even reversed with a little recycling.

~Did I persuade you?